Shuttle winder



Feb. 19, 1952 J. E. M ARTHUR SHUTTLE WINDER 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 Filed Sept. 29, 1949 J. E- M ARTHUR SHU'I\TLE WINDER Feb. 19, 1952 2 Sl-lEETS-Si-IEET 2 Filed Sept. 29, 1949 lave/22W":

has QM Patented Feb. 19, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHUTTLE WINDER John E. McArthur, Dauphin, Manitoba, Canada Application September 29, 1949, Serial No. 118,584

4 Claims. 1

My invention relates to new and useful im provements in shuttle or needle winders for use in winding the needles used in hanging or seaming on fishing gill net mesh to the side lines thereof, an object of my invention being to provide a device of the character herewithin described which facilitates the winding on of the stranded material or twine upon the special form of needle or shuttle conventionally used.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described, the use of which provides a more uniform winding of the thread upon the needle.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described, which is readily adaptable to be driven by mechanical or electrical means.

A yet further object of my invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described whereby fishing needles or shuttles may be wound substantially faster and more accurately than by hand.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which is relatively economical in manufacture, sturdy in construction, and otherwise well suited for the purpose for which it is designed.

With the foregoing objects in view, and such other objects and advantages as will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates as this specification proceeds, my invention consists essentially in the arrangement and construction of parts all as hereinafter more particularly described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my device.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of my device.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary end elevation of my device taken substantially along the lines 3-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevation of on end of my device opposite to that of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a perspective exploded fragmentary detail of the spindle and traveller mechanism.

Figure 6 is an enlarged perspective view of a conventional shuttle or needle.

Figure '7 is a cycle of operations diagram predicated upon one revolution of the driving wheel.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

The special needle or shuttle used in the seaming of gill nets to the float and sinker sidelines facilitates this seaming as well as providing hand means for manipulating the bulk of seaming twine or cord through the mesh apertures. The design of the needle shown in Figure 6 of the aocompanying drawings permits same to be passed readily through the mesh apertures and, the special method of winding the twine upon the needle before seaming, permits same to be disengaged therefrom by a slight jerk but at the same time allows the needle to depend or hang from the net being worked upon without unwinding of the remaining cord, an advantage extremely important in the rapid and accurate seaming of nets to lines.

The winder hereinafter to be described rapidly transfers the seaming twine from a spool on to the shuttle or needle with the desired lay and at the same time maintains an even tension thereby facilitating the seaming operation.

Proceeding now to describe my invention in detail, it will be seen upon reference to the ac- 'companying drawings that I have illustrated in supporting structure If! adjacent one end Figure 6 a conventional fishermans needle or shuttle which includes a pair of elongated opensided fiangs I'spanned by an interiorly spaced winding core 2 having a resilient tongue 3 projecting therefrom and in the same plane as the aforementioned flanks I, clearance 4 being provided therearound. The flanks l are spaced at what I define as the unsupported end 5 of the needle to provide an entrance opening 6 for the winding upon the core of stranded material in the form of seaming twine 1. The reference to the unsupported end 5 will become apparent when the structure of the device is recited hereinafter.

The stranded material or twine I is normally placed upon the needle by hand passing under the tongue 3, down towards the unsupported end 5 of the needle, around the entrance opening 5, along the opposite side of the winding core 2, and thence around the tongue 3. In this connection it will be apparent that the tongue 3 is capable of deflection to one side of the plane of the flanks l in order to facilitate the engagement therearound of the seaming twine I. This deflection is indicated in phantom by the reference character 8.

The device for winding the twine 1 upon the needle is mounted upon a substantially rectangular base panel 9 which in turn carries vertical H thereof in the form of an upstanding post id braced by the diagonal l2. A drive wheel I3 is journalled for rotation toward the upper end it of the post II, a handle I5 being secured to the drive Wheel spindle 16 which extends through the A connecting rod 24 is journalled for rotation upon pin 23 and it should be noted that the end 25 of the connecting rod which is secured to'the' wheel I3 is situated between said wheel and the aforementioned ring 2! thereby permitting free rotation of the end 25 of the rod 24, the purposeof which will hereinafter be described.

The needle or shuttle upon which the stranded material 7 is to be wound is detachably secured within a chuck 26 extending from and secured to the end 21 of a spindle 28 whichv in turn is mounted for rotation betweenvertical supports 29 and 30 secured to the aforementioned base 9.

This chuck comprises a pair of semi-tubular, elongated jaws 3i curved to complement the flanks I of the needle and having inherent resiliency towards one another so that same may be spread apart by the insertion of the needle yet which will grip same firmly when in position. A relatively short spring strip 32 is secured. tothe base 33 of the chuck and is provided with a lip 34 which engages with the interior surface 35:.ad-

jacent the nose 35 01 the needle and anchors same securely within the chuck 26; It'will be observed upon reference to- Figure 2 of .the ac-- companying drawings that the aforementioned spindle 28 together with the chuck 251s disposed upon one side of the plane on which the drive wheel l3 lies and normal to the rotary axis thereof.

I have provided a stranded material distributor collectively designated 31 which conveys thetwine from'rthe spool H to the needle I within.

the chuck 26 which includes a tube or-guideway 38secured to the-aforementioned ring-2| and extending towards the rim 39 of the drive wheel also secured to the ring 21 which strip also carries a twine tensioner 4! comprising a pair of discs spring-tensioned together between which the twine 1 passes thereby preventing backlash.

From the foregoing and upon reference to Fig ure 3 of the accompanying-drawings;it-will be apparent that the distributor?! rotates with the drive wheel 13 andprojectsutherefrom. It is 50 positioned to move through a planar course. parallel to and to one side of the longitudinal axis of the spindle 28 and the chuck 26.

In order to place the twine .7 upon the .needle i in the manner hereinbefore described, itpis necessary to defiectithertongue 3 touone sideofi the plane of the flanks I, pass the thread be-r tween the tongue and the flanks, then downtowards the entrance opening 6 whereupon. the

needle has to be rotated through 90 in order that the thread or twine can be passed up theother side of the winding core 2 whereupon the tongue 3 1S deflected again in order to repeat the operation. The position of the discharge end 42 .of the therefore assumes importance:

distributor 3? inasmuch as this end rotates in its-own plane parallel to and with the drive wheel I3. This The tube 38 curves towards the chuck 26 and is supported by means of a curved strip discharge end which takes the form of an aperture within the extremity of the supporting strip 40 is positioned so that the area enclosed by the course thereof is nearer to the plane of the flanks l of the needle when same are parallel to this enclosed area than the tip 43 of the tongue 3 when same is depressed so that the twine i is passed between said tip and said flanks. Upon reference to Figure 3, the foregoing will be apparent, as in this view the broken line 44 represents the plane through which the drive wheel i3 rotates and broken line 55 indicates the planar course of the discharge end 42 of the distributor 31.

In order to obtain the correct positioning of the shuttle or;needle it is necessary that it is revolved through 180 for each complete revolution of the drive wheel is. This is because, in efiect, and due to the positioning of the spool I! and the distributor 31, the thread is passed backwards and forwards along the length of the needle during one revolution of the drive wheel.

The rotation of the shuttle or needle i within the chuck 25- iseffected by the rotation of the spindle Zi'tand actuated by the aforementioned connecting rod 24. The opposite end 45 of the connecting rod '24 to that which is attached to the drive wheel 13, is pivotally secured to a slidebox 4'! which comprises a casing containing a pair of rollers 48 which engage with a raild extending between the aforementioned supporting posts 29 and '35 subjacent toand slightly to one side of the aforementioned spindle 28. This slidebox in conjunction with what I define as a traveller collectively designated reciprocates longitudinally upon the rail 49 under the infiue ence of the'rotation of the drive wheel [3.

The travelleritil comprises a bar 5! secured to the slide-boxz ll. and. upstanding therefrom," the upper endiof said bar being curved or angulated 5 as at 52 to engage a sleeve 53 which surrounds the aforementioned. spindle 23. Sleeve 53 includes a cylindrical portion 54 and a pair of end caps 55 integral therewith, the portion 52 of bar: 5| being situated between the end caps and trans-' ferring thelongitudinal motion of the slide-box to the longitudinal motion of the sleeve. The sleeve 53 isdrilled longitudinally to slidably engage spindle 28 and is provided with a pin orfollower 56, the end of which extends inwardly to protrude within the longitudinal drilling thereof.

The extremity of pin 55 which extends through hole 59 and engages with a cam track in the formof an elongated spiral guide 51 formed along the length of spindle zfi 'between, and on that portion thereoiiposts 25 andtll;

Sleeve-53 is provided with a pair of ratchet cams 58 and 59 engageable by a spring strip .760

secured to the slide-:box 41 which permits the sleeve to be rotated clockwise with relation'to" Figure -3; V Theengagement of pin 56 within the spiral guide. 5'|' (which is formed counter-clockwise upon-spindle v28 whenviewed'from the lefthand end of Figure 1) will cause the sleeve 53 .to

rotate in the same direction when the slide-box 41 moves .along the rail 49 win the directionlof arrow 6| under the influenceof the connecting rod 24 driven by the Wheel l3. Consequently, no rotation of spindle 28 or chuck 26 will occur.

Rotation of shaft 28 is .further prevented during this movement by the provision of adouble.

ratchet cam: collar 52 having projections 53 upon the circumference thereof, and whichis secured. to. one end. oishaft 28;.adjacent post 29. The.

projections 63 are engageable by a resilient spring lever or tongue 64 secured to post 29 and prevent rotation of the shaft in a clockwise direction when viewed from the left-hand end of Figure 1.

.However, when the slide-box 41' moves in the opposite direction to the arrow M, the ratchet cam 59 engages with the extremity of strip 66 and prevents the sleeve 53 from rotating. But due to engagement of pin 56 within spiral guide 51, spindle 28 is rotated through 180 thereby rotating the chuck 26 and the needle I through the same number of degrees.

When the needle is in the position shown in the drawings, the resilient tongue 3 thereof is deflected towards the plane of the drive wheel I3 for the purpose hereinbefore described by the provision of a cam 65 which, in this embodiment, is provided on the rim 39 of the drive wheel I3 and rotates therewith. A reciprocating beam 66, supported by angulated bracket 31, is situated at right angles to the rotary plane of the cam 95 being pivoted upon a pin 53 and overspanning the aforementioned chuck 23 and shuttle I. A cam follower 69 in the form of a wheel is mounted for rotation within one end in of the beam 66 and engages the cam 65 together with the rim 39 of the wheel I3.

The reciprocating beam 66 extends over the shuttle I' and downwardly theretowards and is provided upon the end II thereof which is on the opposite side of the shuttle to that of the distributor 31, with an intermittently tongue-contacting pusher I2 which deflects the tongue to one side towards the plane of the drive wheel I3 once each revolution of said wheel. In order to maintain the follower 69 within contact with the rim 39, a tension spring I3 is provided which, in this embodiment, extends between the end 'II of the reciprocating beam 56 and an oifstanding bracket 14 secured to post 30.

Having therefore described my device in detail, its method and sequence of operation will now be presented. It is to be understood that, during one revolution of the drive wheel I3, stranded material or twine l is passed along one side of the needle I, whereupon the needle is rotated through 180, the twine at this point passing into the entrance opening 6 of the needle and then back along the other side of the needle to be passed between the now deflected tongue 3 and the flanks I of the needle. Reference to the sequence diagram shown in Figure I will show that the outer circle I5 thereof represents 360 of the drive wheel I3, rotating in a clockwise direction. During approximately 150 of this revolution, the twine I is being passed down the side of the needle adjacent the drive wheel 13 due to the location of the discharge end 42 of the distributor 31. coincidentally with this movement, the aforementioned slide box 41 and traveller 50 are moving along the rail 49 in the direction of arrow BI, the sleeve 56 rotating upon spindle 28 due to the engagement of pin 56 with spiral guide 51, rotation of spindle 28 being prevented by the aforementioned projections 63 upon the collar 62.

At this point the slide box 41 and traveller 50 reach the end of rail 49 and commence travelling in an opposite direction to arrow 5| at which time the strip 63 engages with the ratchet 59 and prevents the sleeve rotating thereby forcing the spindle 28 to rotate through 180 together with the chuck 26 and the shuttle or needle I. The idling portion of the slide-box 41 and traveller 59 is indicated by the dotted line 16 whereas the rotation of spindle 28 is indicated by the full line 1] between the arrows I8.

During the rotation of spindle 28 the twine is being passed along the opposite side of the needle I which is now being brought to face the drive wheel I3, same reaching the resilient tongue 3 at the completion of approximately 330 of revolution of the drive wheel I3. At this point the cam follower 69 commences to engage the cam 65 upon the rim 39 of the wheel I3 thereby actuating the reciprocating beam 66 in the direction of arrow 19. This causes the depresser I2 to move the tongue 3 of the needle I towards the plane of the drive wheel I3 and, due to the aforementioned positioning of the discharge end 42 of the distributor 31 secured to the drive wheel, the twine I is passed between said tongue and the flanks I of the needle thereby engaging same. In the foregoing recitation it is to be assumed that the drive wheel is being rotated by means of handle I5 in a clockwise direction with reference to Figure l. The radial movement of the drive wheel I3 during the depressing and releasing of the tongue 3 is indicated by the quadrant in Figure '7. I

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that continuous winding of twine 1 upon the needle takes place, the needle rotating through between the stage at which the tongue 3 is depressed and the stage at which the twine reaches the open end thereof at which point rotation of the needle through a further 90 occurs thus completing half a cycle.

Since various modifications can be made in my invention as hereinabove described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made withinthe spirit and scope of the claims without departing from such spirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A shuttle winder comprising in combination with a shuttle having a pair of elongated, opensided flanks spanned by an internally spaced winding core and a resilient tongue projecting from said core in the plane of said flanks, and a spool from which stranded material is wound on to said shuttle, a supporting structure, a drive wheel thereon, a spindle disposed on one side of the plane on which said wheel lies normal to the rotary axis thereof, chuck means on the end of said spindle for carrying said shuttle rotatably about the longitudinal axis thereof, means for rotating said spindle, said means comprising an elongated spiral guide extending around the surface of said spindle, a connecting rod on said drive wheel, and a traveller on the end of said connecting rod opposite to that connected to said drive wheel, said traveller engaging said guide so as to rotate said spindle upon movement of said connecting rod under the influence of said drive wheel, means for deflecting said shuttle tongue to one side of the plane of said flanks towards said drive wheel once every half revolution of said shuttle, and a stranded material distributor on said drive Wheel, rotatable therewith and projecting therefrom to an extent such that it moves through a planar course the area enclosed whereby is nearer to the plane of said shuttle-flanks when parallel to said enclosed area, than the tip of said tongue when deflected as aforesaid, so that said distributor passes said stranded material between said tip and the plane of said flanks, said spindle rotating said shuttle 90 between the stage at which said tongue is deflected and the subsequent stage at which said distributor de- 7-; liverssaid material'- to"the unsuppoitedend or said'shuttle'at which-end the said flanks there of are spaced 'to provide an entrance opening for said stranded material 'to said winding core.

2. Ashuttle winder comprising in combination with a shuttle having a pair'of elongated, opensided flanks spanned by "an internally spaced shuttle tongue to one side of the'plane of said flanks towards said drive wheel once every half revolution of said shuttle, said means comprising a cam secured to said drive wheeland rotatingtherewith, a reciprocating-beam at right angles to the rotary plane of said cam and overspanning said shuttle, a'follower securedto said beam and engaging said camfor effecting said reciprocation, and an intermittently tongue-contacting pusher on the end of said beam' and on the opposite side of said shuttle to that of said dis tributor for deflecting said'ton'gue, and a stranded m'aterial'di'stributor onsaid drive wheel, rotatable therewith and projecting therefrom to an extent such thatit moves through a'p lanar course the area enclosed whereby is nearer tothe' plane of said shuttle flanks when parallel to said enclosed area, than the thief said tongue 'when-de flected as aforesaid, Samar said" distributor passes" said stranded material between said tip? and the plane of said flanks, said spindle ro'tat-- ing said shuttle between the stage at'which said tongue is deflected and the subsequent stage at which said distributor delivers said material to the unsupported end of said shuttle, at which end the said flanks thereof are spaced to provide an entrance opening for said stranded material to said winding core.

3. The device according to claim 1 in which said spool is mounted upon said drive wheel for rotation therewith.

4. The device according to claim 2 in which said spool' is mounted on said drive wheel for mtation therewith, and in which said means for rotating said spindle comprises an elongated spiral guide extending around the surface of said spindle, a connecting rod on said drive wheel, a"

traveller on one end of said connecting rod op posite to that connected to said drive wheel, said 1 traveller engaging said guide so as to rotate said" spindle upon movement of said connecting'rod' under the influence of said drive wheel.

JOHN E. MoARTHUR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the filo of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 649,607 Inman May 15, 1900 1,185,125 Nelson May'30, 191-6 2,328,085' Maccarini Aug.'31, 1948' 2,353,727 Howard July 18, 1944' 

